Archive was formed by Londoners Darius Keeler and Danny Griffiths in 1994 and began as an electronica project. At the beginning, they mixed Bristol-style, Massive Attack, Portishead with Rap. The first album of the band, Londinium released in 1996 (with Roya Arab and Rosko John as guest vocalists). The second album, Take my Head, (which the band hates) was released in 1999 (with a new guest vocalist Suzanne Wooder), it is much more melodic than Londinium. The first song of the album, You Make Me Feel, illustrates this change in the Archive's music. After being dropped by their label and more changes in the lineup, the band seemed to hit its stride on the third album You All Look The Same To Me (2002), featuring singer Craig Walker (formerly of Power of Dreams), which took a decided turn toward more progressive music (with some Progressive Rock influences, notably Pink Floyd whose indelible influence is audible on tracks such as 'Finding it so Hard' and 'Again'), while still maintaining electronic elements. The band saw growing popularity and critical acclaim, especially in France, Greece, Germany and Poland. After recording two more artistically—but not too commercially—successful albums, Michel Vaillant (2003) and Noise (2004), Walker left the band for reasons the band and he will not talk about. The project continued on as a Collective, with new vocalists, Pollard Berrier and Dave Pen. In May 2006 they released the album Lights with Pollard Berrier on lead vocals, who is also a member/guest member of the innovative group, "Bauchklang" - a completely vocal beat-box (Vocal Groove) group based in Vienna, Austria. Archive released a live album, entitled,Live at Paris Zenith, in May, 2007 - which was recorded on January 20th, 2007 at the sold out Zentih Arena in Paris. Rolling Stone called it, "The best live album ever made." Archive continues to tour and is working on a number of forthcoming releases in the near future.
Archive are a Collective, not a band.
Funeral
Archive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Finish it off and disappear,
Isn't it great to have the choice,
Quiet it down and stop the noise,
We know those people tell you things,
Like what to say and what to think,
We know you're not needed for your mind,
Just for your money and your kind,
They knew it was black right from the start,
You could end everything right here.
The lyrics of Archive's song Funeral are a powerful commentary on the struggles of modern society. The song speaks about the feeling of being trapped in a world that values money and material success above all else. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is contemplating suicide as a way to escape from the pressures of this world. The choice that is being referred to is the choice to end one's life and disappear into nothingness. This suggests a deep despair and hopelessness that many people feel in their lives.
The second verse of the song is particularly biting in its criticism of society. The singer suggests that people are not valued for their intelligence or their hearts, but only for their money and their ability to fit into a certain mold. The people around them dictate what they can say and think, limiting their freedom and creativity. The perception of a black heart suggests that society is cynical and sees people as inherently negative.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the dark side of modern life, where people feel isolated and trapped by the expectations of society.
Line by Line Meaning
You could end everything right here
You have the power to end your life and all your troubles right now
Finish it off and disappear
Committing suicide would mean that you would no longer be burdened by your problems and no longer have an impact on the world and those around you
Isn't it great to have the choice
Having the option to end your life provides a sense of control that may be comforting to those who feel powerless in other aspects of their life
Quiet it down and stop the noise
Suicide would provide a relief from the noise and chaos of the world, but may also silence the individual forever
We know those people tell you things
There are people in your life who may attempt to influence you or control what you think or do
Like what to say and what to think
These people may try to dictate your thoughts and opinions, molding you into someone they want you to be
We know you're not needed for your mind
Some people may only value you for your ability to provide them with money or other resources, rather than caring about your intellect or personality
Just for your money and your kind
Others may only seek to befriend or gain something from you based on your social status or financial resources
We know you're not wanted for your heart
People may not appreciate you for who you are, regardless of your emotional depth or capacity
They knew it was black right from the start
Others may have preconceived notions or judgments about you that are negative or unfair, and these biases may influence how they treat you
Contributed by Bella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.